Lightweight housing & regulations: Tiny House living in France
French regulations for Tiny Houses, lodges and garden studios.
The ALUR law: French legislation and regulations governing light housing
Tiny houses are becoming increasingly popular in France and Europe. Indeed, this type of housing is both environmentally-friendly and energy-efficient. But above all, because it's now permitted as a main home. On this page, we explain the regulations governing tiny houses in France.
Indeed,the ALUR law (Accès au Logement et un Urbanisme Rénové - Loi ALUR: tout ce qu'il faut savoir en 4 points (legalplace.fr)) or Duflot II law, has been facilitating access to housing in France since 2015, particularly with regard to the establishment of new forms of habitat. It aims to take into account all alternative housing models and to treat light and mobile habitats as permanent homes.
It should be noted that certain conditions must be met in order to qualify as a mobile or demountable dwelling.
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The habitat must be capable of being dismantled, and none of its components, inside or out, must be immovable.
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It must be possible to install and dismantle it, without the need for heavy machinery.
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Connections to public water, electricity and sewage networks must not impact local authority budgets.
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The homeowner is responsible for the cleanliness, hygiene and upkeep of the premises to prevent fires.
Tiny House regulations: everything you need to know!
Tiny House parking and building permits
When it comes to parking regulations, your Tiny House can remain on private land, just like on farmland. However, certain rules must be observed:
- Any installation lasting more than 3 months a year, and with a footprint of no more than 20m², excluding the mezzanine, is subject to prior declaration to the town hall (Code de l'Urbanisme ). You can download the CERFA13404 form here.
- If the surface area of your Tiny House exceeds 20m², you'll need to apply for planning permission.
Zones where parking is prohibited:
- In "strict" A agricultural zones and in protected natural areas of the PLU;
- In areas where camping in isolation and the creation of campsites are prohibited;
- Woods, forests and parks classified by a PLU or POS as wooded areas to be preserved. This is also the case in forests classified under Title I of Book IV of the French Forestry Code.
However, you can park your Tiny in non-constructible areas known as " pastilles ". These zones are defined in the local urban development plans (Plans Locaux d'Urbanisme or PLU).
Before embarking on your Tiny House project, we recommend that you consult your local PLU.
To find out which towns accept Tiny Houses, click here.
Moving a Tiny House in France
In France, Tiny Houses are considered as caravans if their dimensions do not exceed a width of 2.55 m, a height of 4.50 m and a weight of 3.5 tons. Beyond that, they are considered exceptional vehicles.
There are different driving licenses depending on the GVWR ( Gross Vehicle Weight Rating), which combines the weight of the mini-home and the towing vehicle.
- Vehicle + trailer GVW less than or equal to 3500 kg: B license
- Vehicle + trailer GVW greater than 3500 kg and less than 4250 kg: B license and B96 training.
- For a vehicle + trailer GVW of over 4250 kg: BE license.
Source: public service.
Our tiny house models require a BE license.
How do I insure my Tiny House?
A Tiny House is both a home and a trailer. This means you need two types of insurance.
Your tiny house trailer must be registered and insured before it can be used on the road.
When parked, you'll need to take out comprehensive home or mobile-home insurance.
Tiny House and taxes in France
A house on wheels has a special tax status. As such, you won't have to pay taxe d'habitation or taxe foncière (except for the land, if you own it).
However, you will have to pay anannual tax of around €150, the same as for caravans, for example.
A development tax is also levied when you apply for a building permit or a preliminary building declaration, the amount of which is set by the commune. For more information on this tax, please visit the government website, by clicking here.
The tax on mobile homes was abolished on October 1, 2019. You had to pay this tax when you were, on October 1 of the tax year, the owner of a land mobile residence and you occupied it as your main dwelling. More information on the public service website here.
20m² Lodges and Garden Studios regulations
A wooden studio or lodge on a greenfield site
To build a garden studio orwooden lodge with a surface area of 20m², you need to submit a preliminary declaration of works to your local town hall, in accordance with the Code de l'urbanisme. The file consists of a CERFA13404 declaration form and the supporting documents required to draw up the file.
You must then hand in or send by registered mail with acknowledgement of receipt the complete file to the commune where the land is located. Examination of your application takes one month, from date to date.
If you do not receive a response from the authorities within one month of the date on which you sent or submitted your declaration of work, your silence will be deemed to constitute tacit authorization.
For the duration of the work, you will need to display the receipt for the prior declaration, bearing the town hall stamp and certifying the date on which the declaration was submitted.
A habitable wooden chalet on a plot of land already occupied by a detached house, or as an annex to a business premises
If you want to add a 20m² extension to your home, the rules are similar: you simply need to declare the work in advance.
We advise you to consult your local town planning department. It's possible that the town hall will refuse a new extension.
Several wooden studios over 20m² on the same plot of land
In other words, several structures over 20m2 on the same plot of land. You'll need to apply for planning permission. However, the procedure differs according to the living area.
When the existing floor area (living space) added to the new floor area (wooden chalets, lodges, studios) is less than or equal to 150m2, only a building permit is required.
If the total floor area (interior surface) to be declared on the same plot of land is greater than 150m2, a building permit must be issued and validated by a DPLG (Diplômé par le Gouvernement) or HMONP (Habilitation à la maîtrise d'œuvre en son nom propre) architect.
Garden studio and taxes
All garden studios and wooden chalets are subject to the taxe d'aménagement, a tax on garden sheds. To find out more about how the tax is calculated and the possible exemptions, visit the government website by clicking here.
The tax applies when you submit your building permit or prior declaration of work.
The following formula is used to calculate the amount of development tax payable:
Garden shed surface area in m² x Flat-rate value x Rate set by the local authority
Does your garden studio rest on a concrete base or other foundation that is not intended to be moved?
Then you'll have to pay property tax.
Your garden studio is also subject to property tax.